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Tanzania: Minister for Industries, Trade and Investments Charles Mwijage has confirmed that the government’s investment arrangement with Dangote Cement that were granted by former President Jakaya Kikwete's administration are still in place. He said that the government would do nothing to compromise Dangote Cement’s investment in the country and described its entry as a ‘game changer’ by reducing the price of cement, according to the Citizen newspaper. The comments were made in response to media speculation regarding a production shutdown at cement producer’s Mtwara plant.
Mwijage said that Dangote Cement could cut its production costs by using local coal or gas. The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation has been in negotiations since October 2016 to supply gas to the cement producer. He also added that another cement producer, Engro, is considering building a cement plant and that the government is willing to offer it the same incentives as those given to Dangote Cement.
President Mahama inaugurates Ciments de l'Afrique plant in Ghana 02 December 2016
Ghana: President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated a 1Mt/yr cement plant in Tema on behalf of Ciments de l'Afrique (CIMAF), a subsidiary of Morocco’s Addoha Group. The project had an investment of Euro60m according to the Ghana News Agency. Construction started in 2014.
Corporacion Socialista de Cemento workers seek collective contract 01 December 2016
Venezuela: Union representatives from the Corporacion Socialista de Cemento have met with their counterparts from the aluminium industry to discuss how to obtain a collective contract for workers in the cement industry. The Cement Union Coalition (Coalicion de los Sindicatos Cementeros), comprising unions such as Sintracemex, Sintraboica, Sutracompeblo, Invecem and Sintracea, is seeking to sign a national unified agreement for cement workers to unify worker benefits, according to the Nueva Prensa newspaper. At present there are over 20 collective contracts in the cement sector with variations in wages and working conditions. The union has compiled a draft collective contract that will be revised before being passed to the government for negotiation.
Annual cement sales up by 8.15% so far in Dominican Republic 01 December 2016
Dominican Republic: Adocem, the cement association for the Dominican Republic, has reported that sales have risen by 8.15% year-on-year to 4.3Mt so far in 2016, according to the Listin Diario newspaper. Association president Gabriel Ballestas commented that the industry has benefited from government efforts and other local industries.
India: LafargeHolcim has received environment clearance to raise the production capacity of its Nongtrai limestone mine in Meghalaya to 5Mt/yr from 2Mt/yr for US$28m. The mine is operated by Lafarge Umiam Mining, a subsidiary of Lafarge Surma Cement, according to the Press Trust of India. Limestone from the mine is transported across the border to Lafarge Surma Cement’s plant in Bangladesh. The increased limestone is expected to increase the production capacity at the plant to 5.5Mt/yr from 2.2Mt/yr.
The mine expansion project is subject to final outcomes of cases pending before Supreme Court, High Court and National Green Tribunal. LafargeHolcim’s subsidiaries have also been asked to obtain clearance from the National Board of Wildlife and the State Pollution Control Board.